Ohio prison to raise trout for zoo penguins, bears

8/14/2013

LANCASTER, Ohio  — Ohio prison inmates are taking on a fishy assignment as they prepare to raise trout for penguins, bears and otters.

The partnership announced today between the Southeastern Correctional Complex in Lancaster and the Columbus Zoo will provide about 300 pounds of frozen trout a month for the zoo’s dozen-plus penguins.

Inmates also will provide about 100 pounds of trout a month for the zoo’s polar bears, brown bears and otters.

Zoo spokeswoman Patty Peters says the frozen trout will replace fish the zoo currently gets from Idaho.

She says the prison partnership calls for smaller trout, from 4 inches to 6 inches long, which is closer to what penguins prefer.